The European Union arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo

The European Union arms embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire)

On 7 April 1993 the European Union and its Member States agreed to impose an arms embargo on Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). This was followed by the Council Common Position 2002/829/CFSP of 21 October 2002 on the supply of certain equipment into the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Council introduced the Common Position 2003/680/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 1727/2003 as an amendement to the arms embargo on 29 September 2003.

Reaffirming the measures imposed by UNSCR 1493 (2003), UNSCR 1596 (2005) was adopted on 18 April 2005. To bring the EU arms embargo in line with UNSCR 1596/2005, Common Position 2002/829/CFSP was repealed and Council Common Position 2005/440/CFSP was adopted. For the same reason, Council Regulation (EC) No 889/2005 replaced Council Regulation (EC) No 1727/2003.